lost motion
Americannoun
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motion of a machine or mechanism, especially a reciprocating one, during which no useful work is performed.
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motion between parts in an assembly due to manufacturing tolerances, adjustments, slip, or wear.
Etymology
Origin of lost motion
First recorded in 1875–80
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It has over 15,000 parts, but so carefully is it made that lost motion is reduced practically to zero.
From Scientific American ● Jan. 14, 2013
Ambidextrous, he has a knack of changing the ball from one hand to another at the last second and getting it in the clear without a bit of lost motion.
From Time Magazine Archive
The lathe is then turned forward by hand to take up any lost motion, and a line is made on the lathe bed showing the position of the carriage.
From Turning and Boring A specialized treatise for machinists, students in the industrial and engineering schools, and apprentices, on turning and boring methods, etc. by Jones, Franklin D.
In order to bring the brasses closer together, it may be necessary to remove a little metal from the edges of the caps to compensate for the lost motion.
From Aviation Engines Design?Construction?Operation and Repair by Pag?, Victor Wilfred
Friction washers are placed to form the step, and all wear or lost motion can be removed by screwing in the bearing, which, when adjusted, is prevented from turning by a small set-screw.
From Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II by Rose, Joshua
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
